Motel Hell

Happy Tuesday, crime slicksters. It's time once again to take a trip to the dark side, where the girls are hot, the drinks are cold, and the hardboiled-pulp-noir action is non-stop, right here, at the coolest crime joint in cyberspace ... at That Killing Feeling.

In Chapter 27 of THE HEISTERS, we flash back to wheelman Jefty Jones getting ready to pickup the gang after the robbery, but the shit hits the fan when he gets a flat and discovers he doesn't have a spare tire. Then we flash forward to the cops searching the heisters' sleazy motel room ...


INT. STADIUM FINANCE OFFICE - DUSK - FLASHBACK
The office gal sits at the table
counting the last of the money
and putting it in the duffle bags.

Kelsey and Ronan stand nearby
in their guard uniforms, watching.

KELSEY (V.O.)
We were almost done.
We had all the money from the gate,
the sun was setting and the concert
was kicking into high gear.
(beat)
I’d normally be interested
in checking out the bands,
but since I was robbing the joint,
that wasn’t an option.

EXT. NEARBY STREET - DUSK - FLASHBACK
A side street near the stadium,
which we can see in the background.

The truck drives up to the curb.
Parks. Jefty gets out.

Walks around to the rear
and opens the back doors.

He climbs inside.
Pulls out the ramp-boards
and puts them in place.
Then gets back in.

Moments later the Mercedes
backs out and down the ramp.
THUMP-THUMP-THUMPING on a flat tire.

Jefty gets out.
Looks at the flat.

JEFTY
SHIT.
He opens the trunk.
Searches it.
But there’s no spare tire.

JEFTY
Fuck --

Jefty looks around.
Street’s deserted.

He walks down the sidewalk,
looking at the cars.

Comes across an old, beat-up VW van.
With a spare tire mounted on the back.

JEFTY
Thank you, JESUS.

He pulls a wrench out of his pocket.
Starts taking it off.

DEEP MALE VOICE (O.C.)
Want me to change the tire for ya?

Jefty WHIRLS AROUND.
Sees a FILTHY HOMELESS MAN (30’S)
pushing a shopping cart.
Giving his best toothless smile.

FILTHY HOMELESS MAN
(nods)
I just needs two dollars --

Jefty stares at him.
Freaking out.
Pulls out his wallet.

CLOSE ON -
The wallet.
In it, a lonely twenty-dollar bill.

JEFTY
Grimaces.
Yanks it out.
Shoves it in Homeless’ face.

JEFTY
Here’s twenty.
You never saw me.
Got it?

FILTHY HOMELESS MAN
(SNATCHES it)
Thank you, JESUS.

He scuttles away.
Big, goofy grin.

Jefty watches him.
Shakes his head.
Gets back to work on the tire.

INT. VENICE MOTOR COURT HOTEL - FRONT DESK - NIGHT
Ren Rosen and Elwin Marr speak to the NIGHT CLERK,
a small, thin slip of guy.
Typical fussy queen.

Meg Stark and Mart Volok
hang back and look around.

GAY NIGHT CLERK
Of course, detective.
I’ll help in any way I can --

ELWIN
We’re looking for a Hispanic guy.
He would have arrived here
in the last hour or so.

REN
He was probably very agitated.
Upset. Ring any bells?

GAY NIGHT CLERK
Oh, yes.
There was this
horrible-looking Mexican guy.
But he didn’t come to the desk.

ELWIN
You don’t know which room
he went to, do you?

GAY NIGHT CLERK
No.
But he took the elevator up
to the second floor.

REN
How many rooms on the floor?

GAY NIGHT CLERK
Ten, five on each side.

ELWIN
(to Ren)
Our luck it’s a small place.

REN
(nods, to the clerk)
Can we see the register,
see who’s in each room?

GAY NIGHT CLERK
Sure thing.

He gets the register.
Opens it. Looks up. Realizes.

GAY NIGHT CLERK
Is this person -- dangerous?

ELWIN
Very --

REN
And the people he’s visiting
are even more dangerous.

GAY NIGHT CLERK
There won’t be a --
shoot-out or anything, will there?

ELWIN
(smiles)
We usually try to avoid that.

GAY NIGHT CLERK
(sighs)
Thank god for THAT --

He looks in the book.
Scans the room numbers with his finger.
Looks up. Smiles.

GAY NIGHT CLERK
You’re in luck, gentlemen.
It’s off-season.
Only two rooms are occupied
on the second floor.

REN
Who’s in the first room?

GAY NIGHT CLERK
(looks, reads)
Yuri and Olga Chechnikov.
Russian tourists, I guess.

ELWIN
And in the second room?

GAY NIGHT CLERK
(reads)
Uh -- John Smith.

REN
Bingo.

ELWIN
Room number?

GAY NIGHT CLERK
Twenty-three.
At the end of the hall on the left.
It’s a suite. Has two entrances.

Elwin looks at Ren.
Narrows his eyes.

ELWIN
Great.
Two escape routes, no waiting --